Former Hawks Marzilli, Briggs out to defend titles

A pair of Bishop Hendricken alums are in the thick of their respective teams national title defenses, with one former Hawk looking forward to a potential pro career in his chosen sport.

A season ago, Evan Marzilli was playing a key role for the University of South Carolina as the Gamecocks secured their second consecutive College World Series title last June.

Marzilli, along with the Gamecocks, has gotten off to a good start in 2012, starting every game in center field while batting in the leadoff slot in the order. His .321 batting average is good for second on the team while he tops the Gamecock charts in walks (8) and stolen bases (6).

South Carolina is currently 13-1, with its only loss coming to in-state rival Clemson on March 4, in which the Gamecocks blew a two-run lead in the 8th inning before surrendering a walk-off single in the 9th.

Colin Briggs had a Memorial Day to remember in 2011 as his five goals paced the University of Virginia to their fifth national championship in lacrosse, garnering Briggs the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player award in the process. The Denver Outlaws of Major League Lacrosse liked what they saw, as they selected Briggs with the sixth overall pick in the league’s January draft.

Fast-forward to the present, and Briggs has maintained his scintillating form for the Cavaliers, scoring 12 goals and assisting on a further nine markers.

Last Saturday, Briggs returned to the scene of his biggest personal triumph as Virginia took on Cornell at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore. He helped the Cavaliers maintain their perfect start to the season by scoring the winning goal with 1:35 left in overtime to secure a 9-8 victory.

With the win, Virginia now possesses a 7-0 record, along with the No. 1 ranking in the latest media poll, receiving all but one of the 19 first-place votes from the panel.